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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “imperial topaz”
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Gem in the Spotlight: Topaz
… at the start of the article, topaz comes in a huge variety of colors. Some of these varieties have their own names: Imperial Topaz: When both orange and red colors are present (although much of the jewelry industry might call golden topaz imperial… light Sky Blue to dark London Blue. Topaz is also found in less commonly known colors like green, pink, and purple. Imperial Topaz is by far the most valuable variety, while colorless topaz is often the least expensive. The modern era has given us…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Sapphire
…of them, the Saint Edward’s Sapphire, is a large sapphire set in the center of a diamond cross on top of the British Imperial Crown. According to legend, Edward the Confessor, King of the Anglo-Saxons from 1042-1066, met a beggar one day. …brought by the Abbot of Westminster to the Royal British Treasury. The famous sapphire remains there, decorating the Imperial Crown ordered by Queen Victoria. Deriving its name from the Greek word for blue, sapphire used to refer to any blue …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Spinel
… famous examples of this confusion was with the Black Prince’s Ruby. This stone currently sits at the front of the Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom. When it was given to Edward of Woodstock in 1367 it was thought to be a ruby. It …like with all precious stones, it should be treated and stored with care. Its Mohs hardness of 8 puts it on par with Topaz. It’s softer than diamond or sapphire but harder than quartz, tourmaline, and peridot. With proper care there’s no …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Peridot
…it was believed that they intensified the effects of the drug. Gemologically speaking, Peridot is the gem variety of Olivine. It has a Moh’s hardness of 6.5 to 7 which makes it a little harder than Moonstone and a little softer than Topaz. Care should be taken to protect peridot from scratches, sharp blows, household chemicals and extreme temperature changes. Do not use a home ultrasonic machine for cleaning. Instead, use warm soapy water and a tooth brush for at-home …
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The Birthstones
…. Tourmaline is also used as a birthstone for October. Learn more about Opal and Tourmaline November’s Birthstones: Topaz and Citrine Topaz symbolizes good fortune and longevity. According to legend, this golden stone possesses the power … quartz gem many of the best of which come from Brazil, is a current day birthstone for this month. Learn more about Topaz and Citrine December’s Birthstones: Turquoise (Blue Zircon, Blue Topaz, Tanzanite) Turquoise is found in Egypt, …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Morganite
… gemstone for jewelry. For the gem nerds out there, here are a few of the gemological properties of Morganite. Its durability is rated as excellent. Its hardness is 7.5 – 8.0 on the Mohs hardness scale which is comparable to emerald, topaz, and spinel. Its refractive index is 1.560 – 1.600, and its specific gravity is 2.67 – 2.90. These characteristics help identify Morganite as beryl and distinguish it from other pink gemstones. Morganite is commonly heat treated to …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Jade
…pink, purple (often called lavender jade), blue, black, white, and the most valuable/desirable color: a vibrant green. The finest of all green jadeite colors is a saturated emerald green that is almost transparent, and it is called “Imperial Jade.” Jade is one of the top selling gems in Asia, but its beauty and cultural importance have landed it a spot as one of the most important items in the global gem market. In fact, jadeite is often sold by the individual piece instead…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Ruby
…and Madagascar. Before modern gemology, for thousands of years, garnets, rubies, and spinel have been mistaken for each other. Famously, the Black Prince Ruby (formerly thought of as the largest cut ruby) at the center of the British Imperial State Crown, is actually a red spinel. History and Lore of Ruby The first discoveries of ruby date back to 2,500 B.C. They were found alongside stone age tools in historic mines in Mogok, Myanmar. The Bible compares the price of wisdom…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Iolite
… of the stone when it was first discovered. Coming in at 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, iolite is a somewhat soft gem. It is comparable to quartz (Amethyst, Citrine, etc), a little harder than Opal, and softer than Emerald or Topaz. Because of this, some extra care should be taken with your iolite jewelry. Try to avoid wearing it in situations where it might be hit against hard objects to keep it free from cracks and small chips. Iolite is a fairly common gem, …
